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After "lengthy consultation," Naomi Osaka to play semifinal on Friday

I was (and am) ready and prepared to concede the match to my opponent,” she said in a statement first reported by The Guardian.

Published Aug 27, 2020

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After her quarterfinal win at the Western & Southern Open on Wednesday, Naomi Osaka announced that she would not play her semifinal on Thursday, joining the protests in the sports world over racial injustice.

The tournament then announced it would pause play for the entire day.

“As a sport, tennis is collectively taking a stance against racial inequality and social injustice that once again has been thrust to the forefront in the United States,” they said. “The USTA, ATP Tour, and WTA have decided to recognize this moment in time by pausing tournament play at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday, August 27. Play will resume on Friday, August 28.”

On Thursday, Osaka decided she would compete in the rescheduled semifinals on Friday.

“As you know, I pulled out of the tournament yesterday in support of racial injustice and continued police violence. I was (and am) ready and prepared to concede the match to my opponent,” she said in a statement first reported by The Guardian.

“However, after my announcement and lengthy consultation with the WTA and USTA, I have agreed at their request to play on Friday. They offered to postpone all matches until Friday and in my mind that brings more attention to the movement. I want to thank the WTA and the Tournament for their support.”

The women’s semifinals feature Osaka against Elise Mertens and Johanna Konta against Victoria Azarenka. The men’s semis are Novak Djokovic against Roberto Bautista Agut and Stefanos Tsitsipas against Milos Raonic.

Osaka is a two-time Grand Slam champion at the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open, and a former No. 1.